Railway signaling



April 23, 1929. L E, SPR Y 1,709,888

RAILWAY SIGNALING Filed May 15, 1928 INVENTOR? L.E,$pr02 1/, 7

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

LESTER E. SPRAY, or WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO' 'II-IE Union SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, AcoaroBA'rIoN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed May 15,

matic view showing one form of signaling 1.0 embodying myinvention. 7

Referring to the drawing, the reference character designates a main track, and the reference characters 1, 2, 3, and 4 designate auxiliary tracks which are connected with the main track by switches C, D, and E.

When switch C is in its normal position, trafiie may proceed from the auxiliary track linto the main track 10. When switches C and D are both reversed, traffic may proceed from track 2 into main track 10. When switch C is reversed and switches D and. E are normal, traffic may proceed from track 3 into track 10. ,When switches C and E are reversed and switch D is normal, traiiic may proceed from track 4 into track 10.

Each track 1, 2, 3, and 4% is providedwith a signal designated by the reference eharacter S with an exponent corresponding to the associated track, which signals govern traiiic from their respective auxiliary tracks into the main-track 10. Each signal comprises a proceed lamp G and a stop lamp R.

The signals S are controlled by a relay F, and by certain controllers 5' and 6 operated by the several switches C, D, and E. Relay is 'eontrolled in any suitable manner, the circuit for this relay being omitted because ithasnothing to do with my present invention, j- 1 ,"I will first assumethat relay F is energized and that all three switchesG, D, and 'E are normal. The proceed lamp G of signal S is then lighted, the circuit being from terminal B of a suitable source of current,

terminal B through contact 8 of relay F,

contact 6 asymmetric unit U and lamp R of signal S? to terminal 0; Lamp Roi signal S. is lighted by virtue of a circuit through contact 7 of relay F, circuit controlwhich passes from terminal B through con- 7 RAILWAY SIGNALING.

1928. Serial No. 277,839.

tact 8 of relay F, contact 6 asymmetric unit U andlampR of signal S to terminal'O. Lamp R of signal S is lighted by virtue of a similar eircuit which includes contacts 8. and 6 'and asymmetric unit U The lamp- G'of eachsignal S S and S is extinfguished becausethere are no closed circuits through these lamps.

Twill now assume that-switches C and D have been reversed to permit trafiic from track 2 into track 10." Lamp G of signal S is then lighted, its circuit being from terminal B through contact 7 of relay Ffcontact 5 contact 5 and lamp G of signals? to terminal 0. Lamp Roi signal S and the '70 lamps G of signals S ,'S and S are all extinguished because there are no closed circuits through these lamps, Lamp R of sig nal S is lighted by virtue of a circuit from terminal through contact 8 of relay F, contact 6 and asymmetric unit Ut Lamp R of signal S is lighted by virtue of a circuit through contact- 8, contacts 6 and 6 and asymmetric unit U Lamp R of signal S is lighted by virtue of circuit through contact 8, contacts 69 and 6 and asymmetric unit U?. Q v

If switch C is reversed and switches D and E are both normal, lamp G ofsignal S is f lighted, the circuit being through contact 7 of relay F, contact 5 contact 5, and con tact 5 The circuit for. lamp of signal S then includes contact 6 and asymmetric-unit U The circuit for lamp R of signal. S

includes contacts 6 and 6 and 1 asymmetric unit U The circuit for lamp B of signal S includesfcontacts 6 6 6 and asymmetric unit U If switches Cv and "E are 'reversediand switch D is normal, lamp G-of signal S is lighted by a circuit which includes contacts 5?, 5 and 5 .The circuit for lamp-R of signal S then includes contact 6 andv asym-, metric unit U The circuit for lamp R of signal S includes conta cts oti and G Iand asymmetric unit U? The circuit for lamp R of signal includes contacts 6 6 and6 and asymmetric un t U r When relay-F isde-encrgized, all the e11- Vcuitstraced or reierredto aboveare open at contacts 7 and Set this relay. The stop lamp R of each signal is then lighted by virtue of a circuit which passes from terminalB, through back contact 9 of relay F, and the "four stop lamps R'c'onnected in multiple.

i to such lamps.

- asymmetric unit U The branches for the several lamps R include asymmetric units U U U and U respectively.

Again assuming that relay F is energized, and that switch C is normal, lamp Gr of sig-1 nal S is lighted and lamp R of this signal is extinguished. If it were not for asymmetric units U U and U current could flow, for example, from terminal B through contact. 8, contact 6 unit U and then through 'wire 11 and asymmetric unit U to lamp'R of signal S. This fiow of current is prevented, however, by the presence of In a similarmanner, the units U U and U function to prevent the lighting of the stop lamp for the signal in which the proceed lamp is lighted.

One function of the units U to U is to prevent current flowing through contact 9 of relay F to any lamp R except by way of the direct path from unit U U U or U Another function of units Uto U inclusive is to prevent lighting of the stop lamp R in the signal whose proceed lamp G is lighted. Assuming for example that switch C is normal, if it were not for asymmetric unit U current could flow from battery B through contact 8, contact 6 unit U contact 6 contact 6 unit U and lamp R of signal S to terminal 0. Under the different conditions of the switches C, D, and E, the various units U to U function in manners which will readily be understood to prevent lighting 'of the stop lamp for the signal in which the proceed lamp is lighted. I

The asymmetric units U avoid the necessity for relays associated with the signals to selectively control the signal lamps in accordance with the positions of switches C, D, and E. i

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of signaling embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A railroad yard comprising a main track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks, switches for permitting traffic from any one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track, a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp and a stop lamp, circuit controllers operated by said switches, and means including said circuit controllers for lighting the proceed lamp of any one signal when said switches are set for traffic from the associated auxiliary trackinto said main track and for lighting the stop lamp of each of the remaining signals.

2. A railroad yard comprising a Imain track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks,

switches for permitting trafiic from any one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track, a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp and a stop lamp, circuit controllers operated by said switches, a relay, means includinga front contact of said relay and said switch operated circuit the stop lamp of each of the remaining signals.

3. A railroad yard comprising a main track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks, switches for permitting traffic from any one of said auxiliary tracks into said 'main track, a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp and a stop lamp, circuit controllers operated by said switches, a relay, means includinga' front contact of said relay and said switch operated circuit controllers for lightingthe proceed lamp of any one of said signals when said switches are set for trafiic from the associated track into said main track, means including a front contact of said relay for lighting the stop lamp of each of the remaining signals, and means includin a back contact of said relay for lighting t e stoplamp of each of said signals.

4;. A railroad yard comprising a main track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks,

switches for permitting traffic from'any one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track, a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp and a stop lamp, a relay, means operating when said relay is de-energized to light the stop lamp of each signal, and means operating when said relay is energized and said switches are set for tl'afiic from one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track to light the proceed lamp of the signal for such auxiliary track and the stop lamp of each of the remaining signals. i 1 I 5. A railroad yard comprising 'a main track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks,

switches for permitting traflic from anyone.

of said auxiliary tracks into said main track, a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp and a stop lamp, circuit controllers operated by said switches, a relay,

a circuit including a source of current anda back contact of said relay, said circuit having a plurality of multiple branches including the stop lamps of said several signals respectively, means including a front contact of said relay and governed by said circuit controllers for selectively supplying current to said multiple branches according to the positions of said switches, asymmetric units included in said branches for preventing the supply of current to the stop lamp ofone signal through said front contact, and means including afront contact'of said relay and controlled by said circuit controllers forv supplying current to the proceed lamp of said one signal.

6. A railroad yard comprising a main track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks,

positions of said switches, a second circuit including a front contact of said relay and 7 controlled by said switch operated circuit controllers for supplying current to the stop lamp of all signals except one, asymmetric units in the first of said circuits for preventing the supply of current to the stop lamp of said one signal when the second circuit is closed, and means including a front contact of said relay and controlled by said circuit controllers for supplying current to the proceed lamp of said one signal.

7. A railroad yard comprising a main track and a plurality of auxiliary'tracks, switches for permitting traffic from any one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track, a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp and a stop lamp, a relay, a circuit having a plurality of multiple branches including the stop lamps of said several signals respectively, means'operau ing when said relay is deenergized to supply current to all of said branches, a second means operating when said relay is energized and said swltches are set for trafiic from one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track to light the proceed lamp of the signal for such auxiliary track and to supply,

current to all of said branches except the one for the stop lamp of the signal in which the proceed lamp is lighted, and asymmetric units included in said branches for preventing the supply of current by said second means to the stop lamp of the signal in which the proceed lamp is lighted.

8. A railroad yard comprising a main track and a plurality of auxiliary tracks,

switches for permitting traffic from any one of said auxiliary tracks into said main track,

a signal for each auxiliary track comprising a proceed lamp andv a stop lamp, circuit controllers operated by said switches, circuits for said stop lainps including said circuit controllers, means including said circuit controllers for lighting the proceed lamp of any one signal when said switches are set for traffic from the associated auxiliary track to the main track, and asymmetric units associated with said stop lamp circuits for preventing the lighting of the stop lamp for the signal in which the proceed lamp lighted.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, I

LESTER E. SPRAY. 

